THE BOER WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 153, 10 July 1901, Page 2

THE BOER WAR.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright j London, July S. Reining: s Scouts took a position on the sth. .pturing 19 Boers, including Barkhr :, an oath-breaker and trainwreck' commandant. The fight was sharp ~i at close quarters, the bayonet boii. used. One Boor was killed and two wound. J. A dozen cablegrams have been exchanged between Kruger and Botha, the latter urging acceptance of Lord Kitchener's terms. Kruger's and Leyds' intluence, however, prevailed. Great Britain declines to release the Americans taken as prisoners of war in South Africa. London, July 9. The Daily News declares that fighters alone, and not intriguers on the Continent out of reach of the guns, are entitled to be heard. It adds that the British Government was unwise in allowing Botha to communicate with Kruger. Schecper’s commando entered Murraysberg, which was not garrisoned, and burned tho public buildings and a number of houses. Two rebels convicted ot the murder of an English soldier at Aliwal North, are to be treated as ordinary murderers, and executed. Kruger's obstinacy regarding the war is embarrassing the pro-Boers. The Daily Mail advises Lord Stanley, Financial Secretary of the War Office, to secure the evidence of Lieut. Hear, of the Imperial Yeomanry, as regards the alleged shooting of Vlakfontein, tendered to Lord Kitchener after the official contradiction of the shooting of British gunners. The Mail publishes letters from members of the Yeomanry, confirming the reports as to the shooting of wounded men. In tho House of Commons Lord Stanley, replying to Lieut.-Colonel Lee, member for Fareham, promised to enquire into tho Daily Mail’s statements in reference to shooting tho wounded at Yalakfontein. If the statements were found to be false the correspondent would be most severely dealt with.

Brussels, July 8. The Independence Beige declares that Kruger’s attitude is criminal. [By Telegraph.[ (Per 11.M.5. Sonoma at Auckland.)

San Francisco, June JO. London has just cabled a report, not known to bo reliable, that Kruger has cabled General Botha declining to concede anything, and that in consequence of this decision Botha and the commandants agreeing with his peace views have decided to repudiate Kruger’s authority. A further consultation with Botha’s representative and Lord Kitchener will bo arranged for next week. Kruitzinger and Fouclie, the Boer commanders, are busy placarding in accordance with the powers assumed when the northern part of Gape Colony was annexed to the Orange Free State 20 months ago, that any persons reporting the whereabouts of any Boer commando will lie fined j£so, or compelled to follow the commando on foot for three months. According to the best reports, there are about 2100 Boors in Cape Colony. They continue to gain a few recruits. In the House of Commons, a report by Air Brodrick of tho death of 98 men and women and 318 children in tho concentration camps during May was greeted with groans and cries of “ Scandalous ” by the Irish members. Mr Brodrick added that the authorities were arranging for the release of women and children who had friends to receive them, but the Government could not undertake to care for them in isolated places. Mr W. T. Stead writes from London that, after hearing all that can be gleaned from every source, ho is of opinion that the war in South Africa is not near its end. He discussed affairs with Mrs Botha, wife of the Conimandor-iu-Chie£ of tho Boer army, who recently left London for tho Hague, and though he speaks of Airs Botha as a very reticent woman, the little she had to say was important. Mrs Botha is on good terms with General Kitchener, and by his permission she was pennitte 1 to visit her husband immediately before her departure for Europe. She found General Botha in a much better condition than she anticipated. Ho and his men are well clothed, well fed, and well horsed, and, according to all accounts, capable of carrying on tho war for two years to come. The determination is to go on fighting so long as ammunition is to bo obtained by any means. Air Stead believes, however, that if Lord Kitchener were allowed a free hand lie might make a settlement on tho following basis : An amnesty for Cape Colonists who have; taken up arms in support of the Boers second, the rebuilding and restocking of farms devastated by order of British

generals. The sum named at a previous interview between Botha and Kitchener—a million pounds sterling -is declared to be entirely inadequate. Five times that amount would not compensate the burghers. Thirdly, there is be no question of giving votes to Kaffirs, a point to which the Boers attach the greatest importance. Fourthly, the period of the Crown Colony

Government, which is to bo an interregnum between the present state of tilings and the establishment of responsible selfgovernment, should bo reduced, to the shortest definite period, and that in the consultative councils of governor of the Transvaal the leading burghers, such as Botha and Dclarey, should be allowed to sit. If theso concessions were offered in good faith it is possible many burghers would bo content to lay down their arms and recognise the authority of Lord Milner, as representative of Great Britain. Such seem to be the smallest concessions the burghers contemplate accepting. That being so, the chances of any cessation of the conflict arc of the slightest. Mr Chamberlain maintains that Lord Milner is the only person with whom the Government cannot afford to break. Lord Milner therefore has only to threaten to resign to bring tho Cabinet to terms. Lord Milner is absolutely opposed to any concession of the nature outlined, and

declares that it is impossible to regard the burghers as if they were a national unit. The burghers are a stubborn breed, and their constitutional obstinancy is well reinforced by religious belief. So it appears probable that the war will go on, and that the drain on both sides will continue. England will continue to lose two million pounds per week and three thousand men per month. Tho Boers will lose in killed and wounded and prisoners about seventy men per day. There arc at present 19,000 Boers in the prison camps in South Africa, India, St. Helena, and Ceylon. The fighting Boors in the field can hardly number more than fourteen or fifteen thousand men with arms in their hands. In the midst of a black population of seven hundred thousand who have enough to cat these can hardly starve.

A despatch from New Orleans dated •June 17th, says that tho British activity here, which slackened suddenly a month ago, has been revived. Orders have been received to keep rushing horses and mules to South Africa, at least through tho summer. Within twenty-four hours two special trains with twelve hundred head were rushed in from the West, and eight of tho largest transports to be had arc steaming here for loads. Up to date, in round numbers, ,a hundred transports have taken to South Africa one hundred and twenty thousand head of horses and mules, and to accomplish this more than ] twenty-five million dollars have boen spent ! in the United States by Great Britain. | Capt. Marshall, who has represented the British Government here since the purchase of stock was commenced, has been recalled to London for a conference with the Way Office. He is succeeded by I Capt. Tenner. ''’he Daily Mail’s Capetown correspondent says that 'll' C"H UhodeS * s ? ea . k iS? at Bulawayo recently, predicted mat ut , federation of the South African states would come in three or tour years, but he ! contended that to grant self-government j to the Republics before federation would render federation impossible.

The Associated Press obtained a statement from the German Foreign Office, authorised by Count von Bulow, which declares :—“ Neither Great Britain, France, nor Russia ever approached Germany to participate in any action aiming at ending the South African war. Germany has all

along distinguished between offering good offices and intervention. To render good offices would be the parties requested it. but it will be remembered that Great Britain only joined the Hague Conference on condition that the Boor States were excluded. There is no doubt that Kruger came to Europe to obtain the good offices of several Powers to end the war. but there is also no doubt that Great Britain does not want their good office. At least it is true that since the war began Great Britain has never verbally or in writing, confidentially or officially, broached such an idea.”